With a lead donation of $50 million from the Quilter family and about $30 million in additional commitments, the University of California, Irvine’s Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) is moving forward with plans to build a new research and care facility focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The total funding raised for the proposed building now stands at nearly $80 million.
The major contribution by Charles Quilter, Ann Quilter, and their family was announced during UC Irvine’s Brilliant Future campaign celebration on October 4. Their support has inspired others to pledge donations as well, including Harriet Harris, the Brethren Community Foundation, Michael K. Hayde and Laura Khouri, and Keith Swayne.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Quilter family for this remarkable lead gift,” said UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman. “Their support will not only help fund a new building, but their gift and the generosity they have inspired in our community will empower UC Irvine to ultimately find cures for Alzheimer’s and related dementias.”
Ann Quilter initially gave $5 million to UCI MIND out of her interest in Alzheimer’s research before her family increased it to $50 million in honor of her birthday. “UC Irvine has always been part of who we are,” Ann Quilter said. “Our family believes deeply in building community and in supporting the people and places that make a difference. UCI MIND represents hope – not just for scientific breakthroughs but for the families and caregivers who face Alzheimer’s every day. We’re proud to help strengthen the university that shaped our lives and continues to serve our community.”
Plans for the new facility include both research labs and clinical spaces designed for collaboration among interdisciplinary teams from across campus as well as areas dedicated to education and outreach efforts.
“Inspired by Ann’s commitment and made possible through the extraordinary generosity of the Quilter family, particularly Patrick and Chris, Ann Hutchinson Quilter Hall will be a hub for discovery and hope,” said Joshua Grill, director of UCI MIND. “Here, new treatments will be tested and the path toward dementia prevention will be blazed. Thanks to the Quilter family’s vision and leadership, this facility will bring together science, care and community to accelerate progress and amplify impact.”
Recent philanthropic contributions add momentum following a $21 million renewal grant from the National Institute on Aging that supports ongoing work at UCI MIND’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center over five years.
UCI MIND brings together more than 75 faculty members from over 25 departments at UC Irvine—including neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry, geriatrics—and is one of 35 federally funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers nationwide.
Community engagement remains central to UCI MIND’s mission; thousands of Orange County residents participate annually in its events or benefit from educational resources provided by its staff. Over 6,000 county residents have joined UC Irvine’s Consent-to-Contact Registry connecting individuals with relevant clinical studies—an initiative resulting in more than 10,000 referrals.
Harriet Harris has played an important role as part of UCI MIND Leadership Council: “Each discovery brings us closer to a future where Alzheimer’s is not a life sentence. Supporting UCI MIND means investing in discoveries that can change lives – not someday but soon. I’m proud to be part of a movement that brings real hope to families everywhere.”
Keith Swayne also serves on leadership councils connected with health initiatives: “Philanthropy has the power to move society forward in ways nothing else can. When we combine generosity with purpose, we create momentum that transforms institutions and communities alike. UCI MIND embodies that spirit, advancing science and compassion hand in hand.”
Laura Khouri emphasized what this project means: “Great buildings tell great stories. Ann Hutchinson Quilter Hall will not only house groundbreaking research but represent the compassion, collaboration and commitment that define UC Irvine and its mission to make a lasting difference.” Her husband Michael K. Hayde added: “Buildings are more than bricks and mortar; they’re symbols of our shared values. This new facility will stand as a testament to what’s possible when a community comes together to confront one of the greatest health challenges of our time.”
Founded in 1965 and recognized among leading public universities, UC Irvine enrolls over 36,000 students each year and offers hundreds of degree programs. The university contributes significantly both locally—being Orange County’s second-largest employer—and statewide through economic activity.
